Healing isn’t a straight line—and slow progress doesn’t mean you’re stuck. In this episode of Unplugged Therapy, Stephanie Evans explores the “in-between” moments of healing: when old triggers resurface, grace feels distant, and growth seems invisible. She shares personal stories, practical tools, and gentle reminders that even quiet, small steps count.

Want to go deeper? Sign up for Stephanie’s email list to get a free journal download packed with prompts and reflections to guide your healing journey: [your website/landing page link].

Take a deep breath. Slow healing is still healing—and you are exactly where you’re meant to be.

References / Recommended Reading:

·       Brown, B. (2021). Atlas of the Heart: Mapping Meaningful Connection and the Language of Human Experience.Random House.

·       Germer, C. K., & Neff, K. D. (2019). Teaching the Mindful Self-Compassion Program: A Guide for Professionals.Guilford Press.

·       Levine, P. A. (2010). In an Unspoken Voice: How the Body Releases Trauma and Restores Goodness. North Atlantic Books.

·       Neff, K. D. (2011). Self-Compassion: The Proven Power of Being Kind to Yourself. William Morrow.

·       Siegel, D. J. (1999). The Developing Mind: How Relationships and the Brain Interact to Shape Who We Are.Guilford Press.

·       Tedeschi, R. G., & Calhoun, L. G. (2004). “Posttraumatic Growth: Conceptual Foundations and Empirical Evidence.” Psychological Inquiry, 15(1), 1–18.

Episode Keywords / Tags:

Healing journey, trauma recovery, nervous system, self-compassion, mindfulness, post-traumatic growth, emotional wellness, personal growth, mental health podcast, therapy tips

Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/unplugged-therapy-nurturing-your-soul/donations

Take a deep breath and settle in for this bonus guided reflection, a companion to the Foundations of Trauma series. In this 10-minute episode, Stephanie invites you to reflect on what you’ve learned, remember your resilience, and reclaim the parts of yourself that are ready to heal.

Through mindful prompts, affirmations, and a moment of faith-centered encouragement, you’ll be guided to slow down, listen to your body, and anchor into peace.

You’ll Reflect On:

• What truths about trauma have stayed with you

• The strengths that helped you survive difficult seasons

• What parts of yourself you’re ready to reclaim

• How faith and grace weave through your healing

Listener Reflection Guide (available in show notes or PDF):

1. What new understanding do I have about trauma and my body?
2. Which trauma response (fight, flight, freeze, fawn) feels most familiar?
3. What relationships feel safe and supportive right now?
4. What does reclaiming my self look like in this season?
5. What truth about my worth do I want to carry forward?
6. Where have I seen God’s presence in my healing journey?

Daily Affirmations:

• My healing unfolds at the pace it needs to.

• I can hold pain and hope at the same time.

• My body is my ally, not my enemy.

• I am loved beyond my wounds.

• I am becoming whole.

Tags:

trauma healing, faith-based therapy, nervous system regulation, inner child, mindfulness, Christian therapy, self-worth, spiritual growth, emotional healing, mental health, guided meditation, resilience

Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/unplugged-therapy-nurturing-your-soul/donations

Episode 5 of the Foundations of Trauma series brings the journey full circle — from understanding trauma’s impact on the body and relationships to rediscovering who you are beyond the pain.

Stephanie explores how trauma can fracture identity, creating feelings of disconnection, shame, and loss of self. Citing research from Frontiers in Psychology and the Journal of Traumatic Stress, she explains how the brain protects us through “self-fragmentation” and how rebuilding self-compassion is key to recovery.

Through faith-based reflection and gentle practice, listeners are guided to see themselves through a lens of grace rather than shame. Scripture from Isaiah 43:1 reminds us that identity is not defined by trauma but by the One who redeems and restores.

Stephanie offers practical ways to reconnect with your authentic self—listening inward, practicing compassion, reclaiming joy, and nurturing safe relationships. This episode closes the Foundations of Trauma series with a heartfelt message: you are not broken; you are becoming whole.

References for Show Notes

• Frewen, P. A., & Lanius, R. A. (2020). Healing the Traumatized Self: Consciousness, Neuroscience, Treatment.Frontiers in Psychology. Link
• van der Kolk, B. A. (2014). The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma. Penguin Books.
• Hoffart, A., Øktedalen, T., & Langkaas, T. F. (2019). Self-compassion is a powerful predictor of recovery from trauma. Journal of Traumatic Stress. Link
• The Holy Bible, Isaiah 43:1

Search-Optimized Tags / Keywords

• trauma recovery

• healing identity

• self-compassion

• faith and trauma

• Christian mental health

• shame and worth

• trauma-informed faith

• body keeps the score

• reclaiming self after trauma

• nervous system healing

• emotional healing

• trauma education

• spiritual healing

• identity in Christ

• • post-traumatic growth

Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/unplugged-therapy-nurturing-your-soul/donations

Episode 4 of the Foundations of Trauma series explores one of the most tender areas of healing—relationships. Stephanie explains how trauma doesn’t just live in our memories; it lives in our patterns of attachment, shaping how we trust, connect, and respond to closeness.

Drawing on John Bowlby’s attachment theory, she describes how early relational experiences teach our nervous system what safety feels like—and how trauma can rewire those patterns toward protection rather than connection. Research from Frontiers in Psychology and Frontiers in Integrative Neuroscience highlights how trauma survivors often experience heightened fear responses and disrupted autonomic regulation, affecting their capacity for intimacy and calm.

Through faith-centered reflection, Stephanie reminds listeners that God doesn’t rush relational healing—He patiently tends to wounds, rebuilding trust one safe connection at a time. You’ll learn about the “corrective emotional experience,” the power of boundaries, and how to begin noticing when your body feels safe (or guarded) around others.

This gentle, insightful episode is an invitation to slow down, notice, and honor your nervous system’s wisdom as you relearn safety in love and connection.

References

• Granqvist, P., et al. (2018). Attachment and Trauma: An Integrative Overview. Frontiers in Psychology. Link
• Kolacz, J., et al. (2021). Disrupted Autonomic Regulation in PTSD and Trauma Exposure: A Polyvagal Perspective.Frontiers in Integrative Neuroscience. Link
• Fosha, D. (2000). The Transforming Power of Affect: A Model for Accelerated Change. New York: Basic Books.
• Bowlby, J. (1988). A Secure Base: Parent-Child Attachment and Healthy Human Development. New York: Basic Books.
• The Holy Bible, Psalm 147:3

Search-Optimized Tags / Keywords

• trauma and relationships

• attachment theory

• faith and trauma

• relational healing

• nervous system regulation

• trauma-informed faith

• Christian mental health

• polyvagal theory

• emotional safety

• rebuilding trust

• trauma recovery

• relational trauma

• disorganized attachment

• connection and healing

• emotional resilience

Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/unplugged-therapy-nurturing-your-soul/donations

Episode 3 of the Foundations of Trauma series dives into one of the most misunderstood parts of trauma: that it doesn’t always come from catastrophic events. Stephanie explains the difference between “Big T” and “little t” trauma — from life-altering crises to the slow erosion of self-worth that can happen through criticism, neglect, or rejection.

With insights from the American Psychological Association and research like the ACE Study (Felitti et al., 1998), this episode shows how small, chronic stressors can rewire the nervous system and alter how we experience safety, trust, and identity.

From a faith perspective, Stephanie reminds us that God doesn’t rank pain — He gathers every tear, even the unseen ones. Through guided reflection and gentle questions, listeners are invited to honor their quiet wounds instead of minimizing them, and to begin seeing awareness as the doorway to healing.

Whether you’ve experienced overt trauma or subtle emotional wounding, this episode offers understanding, compassion, and hope — a reminder that your story matters, and your healing is sacred.

TAGS:

• trauma healing

• big T vs little t trauma

• emotional neglect

• faith and trauma

• nervous system healing

• ACE study

• Christian mental health

• developmental trauma

• emotional wounds

• trauma-informed faith

• understanding trauma

• body-mind connection

• religious trauma recovery

• chronic stress

• inner child healing

Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/unplugged-therapy-nurturing-your-soul/donations

This episode continues our Foundations of Trauma series with a deep dive into how trauma lives in the body. Stephanie explains how the nervous system learns to protect us, sometimes by staying in constant alert or by shutting down entirely, and how those responses are not weakness, but evidence of survival.

You’ll learn about the brain’s key players in trauma, the amygdala, hippocampus, and prefrontal cortex, and how they shape memory, fear, and safety. Stephanie also brings faith into the conversation, reminding us that our bodies are “fearfully and wonderfully made,” even when they hold tension or fear.

Rather than offering coping strategies, this episode focuses on understanding and compassion. You’ll be guided to reflect on where your body might still be guarding and how to gently invite safety back in.

Tags:

• trauma healing
• body keeps the score
• nervous system regulation
• faith and trauma
• somatic awareness
• emotional healing
• trauma-informed faith
• Christian mental health
• trauma and the brain
• mind-body connection
• trauma education
• nervous system healing
• embodied faith
• religious trauma recovery
• understanding PTSD

Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/unplugged-therapy-nurturing-your-soul/donations

Taking the NCE can feel overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to! In this episode, I walk you through my personal experience preparing for and taking the National Counselor Exam. I spent three months preparing with books, practice questions, and careful review of counseling concepts.

I also share a tip that made test day less stressful: visiting the testing location a few weeks early to find it among 11 other businesses and asking a few questions beforehand. Plus, I discuss strategies for reading multiple-choice questions, pacing yourself, and approaching the exam with confidence.

Whether you’re just starting your NCE prep or looking for encouragement, this episode provides practical tips, research-backed insights, and a glimpse into my own journey as a counselor. Check the episode notes for links to the resources I used!

YouTube:

Dr. Pam

NCE Prep

Dr. Rosenthal

Books:

NCE Exam Prep Blue Book

Mometrix

Dr. Rosenthals Purple Book

Tags / Keywords:

• NCE exam tips
• National Counselor Exam
• counselor exam prep
• test day strategies
• multiple-choice test tips
• counseling student advice
• mental health career
• therapy education
• counselor licensure exam
• exam prep motivation
• study strategies for NCE
• distributed practice tips
• test anxiety help
• counseling psychology

Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/unplugged-therapy-nurturing-your-soul/donations

Foundations of Trauma is a podcast about understanding what trauma really is, and how healing happens from the inside out. Hosted by Stephanie Evans, a therapist-in-training and survivor of high-control religion, this show explores the emotional, physical, and spiritual layers of trauma in a grounded, compassionate way.

Each episode blends clinical insight with real-life reflection and gentle faith integration, helping listeners redefine trauma, understand their nervous system, and reconnect with safety, self-worth, and grace.

This is a space for anyone who’s ever wondered, “Why can’t I just move on?” or “Why does my body still feel unsafe?”You’ll find warmth, understanding, and hope here, no quick fixes, no spiritual bypassing, just honest conversations about what it means to heal.

You’re not broken. You’re becoming whole.

Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/unplugged-therapy-nurturing-your-soul/donations

In this deeply personal episode, I share my heart as I walk through what it’s been like to deconstruct the fear-based teachings of the IBLP and step into the true, freeing love of God. With vulnerability and Scripture, I invite listeners to begin healing from the lies of legalism and reconnect with the heart of the One True God.

Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/unplugged-therapy-nurturing-your-soul/donations

Raised under IBLP? You're not alone. In this episode, Stephanie exposes 9 core lies taught by Bill Gothard—and replaces them with the freeing truth of Scripture. It’s time to break the silence, reclaim your voice, and rediscover a God who doesn’t control through fear, but heals through love.

Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/unplugged-therapy-nurturing-your-soul/donations